Rl 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


2^|2j8  |25 
■tt  lii  12.2 
£   1^    12.0 


1^ 


VQ 


^? 


^l 


^.4/ 


w 


'9 


r 


y 


Photographic 

Sdences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  149S0 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


Thi 
tol 


The  Institute  his  attempted  :o  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  biblic graphically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  cherked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


v\ 


D 


D 


D 


Coloured  cowers/ 
CoMvertu^'e  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  andommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  rest^urie  et/ou  pellicuide 


I      I    Cover  tUle  missing/ 


Le  titrn  de  couverture  manque 


r~|    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiquos  en  couleur 

Coloured  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


n   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
e!ong  interior  margin/ 

Laoliure  serr^e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restai;ration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  ceia  6tait  possible,  ces  pc*gee  n'ont 
pas  dt6  fiimdos. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  ie  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'ii  lui  a  4t4  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-deesous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  palliculies 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  d^coiordes,  tacheties  ou  piquies 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tauhdos 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gaie  do  I'impression 

Includbs  supplementary  materi{ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppi^mentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  6dition  disponible 


I     1  Pages  damaged/ 

r~~~|  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

r~7(  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

r~7l  Showthrough/ 

[~~|  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includbs  supplementary  material/ 

I      I  Only  edition  available/ 


Th< 
poi 
of 
filH 


Ori 
bei 
the 
•io 
oth 
firs 
•io 
or 


Th< 
•hi 
Tl^ 
wh 

Ma 
difl 
•nt 
b«^ 
rigl 
req 
me 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  hava  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellument 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiliet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  fiimdes  d  nouveau  de  fa9on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  tne  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  c)-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

1 

1 

1 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X                            32X 

Ills 

du 

difier 

ine 

lage 


TIm  copy  ffilm«d  h«r«  has  b««n  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibiiity 
of  *;ha  original  copy  and  in  icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif ications. 


L'axamplaira  film*  f ut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
g^nArosit*  da: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  AtA  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattatA  da  I'axampiaira  f llmA,  at  an 
conformltA  avac  las  conditions  du  cortrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  r«0*  with  a  printed  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whar^  appropriate.  Ail 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printacj  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  Illustratad  imprassion. 


Las  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  ast  ImprimAa  sont  flimAs  en  comman9ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminent  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  empreinto 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  las  autras  exemnliires 
originaux  sont  flimAs  en  commenvant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniArs  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  ^»-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  la  symbols  -^>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE".  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  tha 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
flimAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  d^ffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA.  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
dr  S'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  pFenani  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Las  diagrammes  suivants 
iilustrant  la  mAthode. 


ata 


ilure, 


: 


IX 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

■■4 


■n 


ff^i-- 


<f,ifk      ".     ^ 


V 


Congregational  Churches 


IN    NOVA    SCOTIA. 


BY 


SAMUEL    A.   GREEN. 


[Reprinted  from  thf   Proceedings  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society,  February,  1888.] 


CAMBRIDGE : 
JOHN     WIISON     AND    SON. 

Enibeisitg  Press. 
1888. 


i. 


■J  .y.^J 


UK 


CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCHES  IN  NOVA  SCOTIA. 


Dr.  Green  conmiuiiicated  copies  of  the  following  letters  in 
the  Society's  Library,  which  contain  interesting  facts  in  regard 
to  tiie  church  history  of  Nova  Scotia.  They  relate  to  the  dis- 
senting ministers  of  an  early  period,  of  whom  several  were 
from  New  England,  and  graduates  of  Harvard.  They  furnish 
a  glimpse  of  pioneer  missionary  work  in  that  Province,  which 
is  not  found  elsewhere.  The  original  manuscripts  were  given 
by  Mr.  John  Fleet  Eliot  at  the  July  meeting  of  1865,  and 
are  now  found  in  the  volume  marked  "Andrews  and  Eliot 
Letters.     1662-1811.'' 


To  the  Rev,d  pasters  And  Christian  Brethen  of  the  Several  Discent- 
iug  Churches  in  Boston  in  the  Massechusets-Bay  In  Neweugland 
And  in  the  towns  Adjacent  &•; 

The  Memorial  of  the  Con-gregatioiinl  Church  in  Cornwallis  in  the 
County  of  Kings  County  in  the  province  Of  Novascotia  .  .  . 

Whereas  God  in  his  providence  who  orders  the  bounds  of  the  Habi- 
tation of  his  people,  after  previously  Removeing  our  Enemies,  planted 
us  in  this  Infant  Colony  (in  the  year  1760)  and  after  our  Continueing 
five  years  Destitute  oi  a  minister  of  tlie  Gosple :  by  application  to  the 
South  Association  in  Hartford  County  in  the  Colony  Of  Connecticut,  we 


obtain'd  one  :  (viz)  the  Kev'd  Benajah  phelps,  who  Came  to  us  ordain'd 
to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  well  Uecommended  (by  Said  Associa- 
tion) who  after  one  years  Continuance  with  ua  on  jjrobation  took  the 
pastoral  Charge  of  us  to  our  General  Satisfaction.  At  which  time  We 
were  in  CircMrastances  to  Afford  him  A  Comfortable  INIaintainance,  be- 
ing a  time  of  prosperity  with  uu. 

But  the  two  years  \)ast  things  have  taken  A  Different  turn :  the 
produce  of  our  Village  being  much  Cut  Short,  which  occasioned 
So  Great  A  Scarcity  Among  us,  that  we  had  not  last  Spring  a  Suffi- 
ciancy  of  grain  in  town  to  Seed  our  Lands.  And  our  Straits  had 
Necessarily  Increast  to  Extremity  through  our  Inebility  to  pur- 
chace  Seed,  had  not  god  Inclined  the  hearts  of  Some  of  our  Father- 
Like  Friends  at  Ilallifax  to  Relive  us  By  procureing  us  Seed  At 
A  Neighbouring  Town,  the  produce  of  which  hath  well  Answer'd  our 
Expectations.  Yet  Notwithstanding  the  plenty  this  Year  hath  pro- 
duced Among  us.  And  our  Numbers  Which  Consists  of  133  familys  (Not 
10  of  which  of  the  Establish'd  Church)  And  between  Eight  &  Nine 
hundred  Souls  :  Our  Lands  also  Good  and  Fertile :  what  by  Means  of 
the  Late  Distressing  Scarcity,  And  the  present  Extraordinary  Expences 
on  our  Dikes,  Building  A  Meeting-house  &';  together  with  our  neces- 
sary Expence  For  Clothing  before  we  Could  put  our  Selves  in  a  way 
to  make  Any  Proficiancy  in  Mannifacturing  our  wooliug,  hath  Involved 
us  so  fur  In  Debt  to  our  traders,  that  but  very  fue  of  us  have  Any  pro- 
duce By  which  we  Can  Relive  our  minister  Under  his  present  needy 
Circumstances,  And  without  Some  Relief  from  Some  other  Quarter,  Our 
Said  Minister  Cannot  Continue  much  Longer  with  us  which  if  after  a 
Seperation  from  the  Society  And  Communion  of  our  Christian  friends 
in  Newengland,  And  five  years  Continuance  without  any  previlege  of 
Gosple  Administrations  (According  to  our  profession)  Notwithstanding 
our  many  indeavours  Tn  that  time  to  have  them  Established  Among  us, 
And  the  Expence  Of  Settleing  A  Minister  Building  A  meeting  house  &? 
We  Say  if  After  All  this  we  Should  be  Left  Destitute  of  Gosple  Admin- 
istrations by  Neglecting  to  petition  the  Aid  Of  Such  of  our  Christian 
Brethren  As  Are  Able  to  Afford  us  Relief  at  So  Critickle  A  Junctur  as 
this,  We  Should  be  both  wanting  to  Our  Selves  and  posterity,  And  the 
Cause  of  Religeon  among  us.  And  be  Reduced  to  A  Worse  ConditioD 
than  At  Our  first  Settleing. 

For  As  there  is  Now  A  Church  in  Building  in  this  town  And  A  Church 
minister  provided  free  of  any  Expence  to  all  proselitos  (viz  the  Rev,d 
M'  Eagle-Stone  from  Ireland,  who  First  Appear,d  here  As  A  presbe- 
terian,  hath  ben  home  for.  And  Last  Spring  Returnd  with  Orders) 
And  Several  of  the  More  Loose  And  Unstable  of  our  people  have  already 
gone  Over  to  them.  And  the  Door  is  open  for  many  more  :  and  If  we 
now  part  with  our  Minister  (who  Seams  willing  to  tarry  with  us  on 


A 


5 


very  modirate  terms)  we  of  Coticequence  Ii»  A  Few  years  Shall  all  be 
Churchmen  or  Nothing  (ie)  in  point  of  Kelij^ion,  as  it  Seams  we  Shall 
be  in  no  Condition  to  Reccttle  Another  Minister.  And  if  our  Circum- 
8[tauce8]  As  here  truly  Rfipresentod :  Clame  Any  Interest  in  your  Pity 
And  prayers,  wo  trust  you  will  Not  bo  forgetfull  of  us  :  Nor  Refuso  to 
Contribute  to  our  Relief,  if  you  .ludge  the  Nature  and  Circumstance  of 
the  Matter  Require  it. 

It  is  Recomnu3nded  that  Any  Doiuitions  for  the  Relief  of  our  Rcv,d 
Paster  be  p.nid  into  the  hands  of  the  Rev,*"  Andrew  Klliot  of  Boston, 
and  By  him  Remitted  to  Mallachi  Salter  Esq^  of  hallifax  by  whome 
your  Liberallity  will  be  brought  Safe  to  hand,  your  Complyance  Will 
be  Greatfully  Acknowledged  by  us  your  Memoriallists,  and  the  Interest 
of  Religeon  May  bo  greatly  Serv'd. 

CouNWALLis  November  8'!>  1709 


Samukl  Beckwitfi 
Caleb  huntington 
Isaac  Bioalow 
John  Nkwcomb 
IIezijciaii  Cogswell 
Elkanah  Mokton  Juu' 


as  Com" 
For  the  chh 
&  congregation 


To  The  Rev.d  M:  Andrkw  Ki.liot  In  Boston  in  Newenglaiul. 


Halifax  January  18«!'  1770. 

RevV  SiVs  We  were  yesterday  favor'd  with  the  receipt  of  your 
Letter  of  the  12".'  December,  and  agreeable  to  youi  request,  shall  now 
furnish  you  with  the  best  Accounts  W3  are  able  to  collect,  of  the  Cir- 
cumstances, of  the  Dissenting  Clergy,  and  their  Congregations,  within 
this  Province. 

We  have  in  all  Eight  dissenting  Clergymen,  settled  here.  Six  of 
whom  are  Congregationalists,  Viz'  The  Rev"  M'  Wood  Cheever,  Sec- 
comb,  Moor,  Phelps  &  Gannet,  and  two  are  Presbyterian  Viz'  M' 
Murdoch,  &  Mf  Lyon. 

The  Rev'!  M'  VVood  at  Barrington,  came  from  New  Engl'!  We  can't 
learn  that  he  has  any  Establish'd  Salary,  but  that  his  people  (yet  in 
low  Circumstances)  are  able  to  afford  him  but  a  scanty  support. 

The  Rev*!  M'  Cheever  ^  at  Liverpool  is  also  from  N'Engl'!  He  was 
promis'd  a  salary  of  about  £80,  f  annum,  but  his  people  are  not  able  to 
make  good  their  Contract,  and  having  a  very  numerous  Family,  finds  it 

1  The  Rev.  Israel  Cheever  was  born  at  Ccnconl,  Sept.  27, 1723,  and  graduated 
at  Harvard  College  in  the  Class  of  1749.  He  was  settled  for  many  years  at 
Liverpool,  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  died  in  June,  1812. 


tmm 


extremely  ditHcult  to  support  tliein,  and  'n  feiirfiill  whether  he  shall  not 
be  obliged  to  remove  to  some  other  Province  for  a  SubaiHtence. 

The  Rev'!  M'  Seccomb  '  at  Chester  is  also  from  N'Enfjl''  He  has 
never  had  any  Establish'd  Salary,  but  receives  about  i!20,  >'  annum 
from  his  Parish,  which  contains  a  few  Industrious,  but  poor  People, 
He  has  expended  all  the  Money  he  brought  with  him  into  this  Coun- 
try (and  wliich  we  are  inform'd  was  consideraljlo)  in  Buildings  «Sc  other 
improvements,  on  a  new  Farm,  whi(di  has  reduced  bin)  to  very  necessi- 
tous Circumstances:  lie  has  had  some  small  relief  from  this  Town. 
We  cannot  avoid  Karncstly  recommending  this  Gentleman,  now  ad- 
vanc'd  in  years,  —  as  an  Object  very  worthy  of  a  Charitable  Assistance. 

The  Rev'!  yV.  Moor  at  Hiillfdx,  is  from  Ireland;  lie  is  paid  a  salary 
of  £!."><>,  y  aninim  (the  whole  of  which  lie  expends  for  the  support  of 
his  Family)  and  but  tor  the  exertion  of  a  few  individuals  of  our  small 
Congrt'gation,  (who  contribute  largely),  this  Gentleman's  Subsistance 
would  \)v  too  urecarious,  to  induce  his  continuance  amonjfst  us. 

The  Rev''  M'  Murdoch  at  Norton,  i;i  also  from  Ireland  His  priist^nt 
salary  is  about  £70.  I'  annum,  but  as  his  people  an;  greatly  in  arrears 
to  him,  he  complains  for  want  of  a  sutHciency  to  support  him  com- 
fortably. 

The  Rev''  M'  Phelps  at  Cornwnllis,  is  from  Connecticutt,  His 
salary  by  agreement  is  £80,  V  aimura,  but  he  says  his  People  are  not 
able  to  make  good  their  Contract,  and  are  of  course  very  much  in 
arrears.  This  Gentleman  has  purchas'd.  a  farm,  built  an  Mouse  and 
made  other  considerable  improvements  which  has  much  embarrass'd 
him,  and  we  believe  he  at  present  struggles  hard  for  a  subsistance,  Yet 
we  must  observe,  that  this  Town  is  one  of  the  most  thriving  settlements 
in  the  Province. 

The  Rev''  Mf  Lyon  at  Truro.,  is  from  the  Jerseys, —  lie  has  no 
stated  salary,  but  w(!  suppose  he  may  receive  about  £50,  'j:^  annum. 
He  says  he  is  often  destitute  of  the  necessary's  of  Life,  Yet  is  encour- 
aged to  continue,  from  a  prospect  of  being  supported  in  a  better  man- 
ner in  future,  as  his  people  are  Industrious  and  are  making  great 
improvements. 


'  Tilt'  Kev.  Joiui  Seccombc  was  born  at  Medford,  April  25,  1708,  and  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College  in  the  Class  of  1728.  He  was  settled  as  the  minister  of 
Harvard,  Massachusetts,  from  Oct.  10,  17iW,  to  September,  17o7,  and  of  Chester, 
Nova  Scotia,  from  1763  to  the  time  of  his  death  on  Oct.  27,  1792.  The  first 
ordination  sermon  preached  in  the  Province  of  Nova  Scotia  was  delivered  by 
him  in  Halifax  on  July  .3,  1770.  He  was  the  author  of  a  humorous  poem 
entitled  "Father  Abbey's  Will,"  first  published  as  u  broadside,  and  afterward 
reprinted  in  "  The  Gentleman's  Magazine  "  and  "  The  European  Magazine," 
both  for  May,  1781,  and  in  "  The  Massachusetts  Magazine  "  for  November,  1794. 
Our  late  associate,  the  Kev.  John  Langdon  Sibley,  prepared  an  edition  of  this 
poem  wliicii  was  privately  printed  in  the  year  \6b\. 


'Vhv.  Ucv''  M'  Gimrict '  at  ('nmlierldnd  In  from  New  Kngl'l  his  nalary 
is  al)out  £80,  >'  iiiiiiiiin,  whic^li  is  puid  him  by  thu  Kx^rtiori  of  u 
Hmall  number  of  g(>iH!roii8  pisoph)  there,  that  from  him  we  hear  no 
C(/mphuiitH. 

From  tliis  succinct  accoimt  (ientlomeii,  You  will  he  able  to  form 
some  Judgment  of  the  present  situation  of  the  Dissenting  Cler<j;y 
amongst  us,  whoso  poverty  may  be  easily  accounted  for,  when  it  is 
consider'd  tliat  the  most  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Colony  are  yet 
but  in  indifferent  Circumstances,  not  having  recover'd  the  Kxpenco 
th«!y  have  been  at  in  Transporting  themselves  and  Familys  into  the 
Co  "itry,  clearing  new  Lands,  Huildings  &,  Improvements  thereon  &". 
&"  that  their  farms  at  present  do  but  little  more  than  afford  them  a 
coarse  subsistance  for  their  Familys,  The  people  however  do  in  gen- 
eral begin  to  thrive,  and  will  in  a  little  time,  we  hope,  be  .-.ble  to  attbrd 
their  Ministers  a  better  support. 

Should  you  be  pleas'd,  Gentlemen,  kindly  to  interest  yourselves  for 
the  relief  of  your  necessitous  Brethren  in  the  Ministry  here,  any  charit- 
able donations  from  the  well  affected  among  you,  will  bo  very  season- 
able, and  accepted  with  great  thankfullness,  and  wo  doubt  not  may 
tend  to  promote  the  cause  of  Religion  and  Piety  among  us ;  —  We 
would  beg  leave  to  propose,  that  whatever  Suras  may  be  collected^  may 
be  put  into  the  hands  of  some  discreet  &  Judicious  j)erson8  here,  to  be 
disposed  of  by  them  in  due  proportion. 

The  Gentlemen  for  whom  we  would  sollicit  this  Charity,  We  be- 
lieve to  be  of  unblemish'd  reputations,  and  of  exemplary  Lives  & 
Conversation. 

We  take  this  opportunity  to  express  our  gnitefull  acknowledgements, 
for  the  kind  reception  given  to  the  Rev'!  M'  Moor  at  Boston,  and 
Especially  for  the  recommendation  of  him  &  his  Cause  to  the  Gentle- 
men, your  friends,  in  England,  which  is  likely  to  prove  Effectual,  hav- 
ing received  Letters  from  him  since  his  arrival,  —  Encouraging  us  to 
hope  he  shall  be  able  to  raise  something  considerable. 
.    We  are  Gentlemen, 

Your  Most  Obed'  &  humb.  Serv" 

Bn  Gerrish. 
Malachy  Saktkr 
To  The  Rev<?  Mess"  Anduew  Klliot,  and  Samukl  CoorER. 


1  Tlie  Rev.  Cnleb  Gannett  was  born  at  Bridge  water,  Aug.  22,  1745,  and  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  the  Class  of  1763.  He  was  ordained  at  Hingham, 
Oct.  12,  1767,  and  was  at  once  settled  over  the  society  at  Amherst  and  Cumber- 
land, Nova  Scotia;  but  from  the  inadequate  support  given  him,  he  returned  to 
New  England  in  1771.  He  was  a  tutor  at  Harvard  College  from  1773  to  1780, 
and  Steward  from  1779  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  took  place  at  Cambridge, 
April  25,  1818.  He  was  chosen  a  member  of  this  Society,  Oct.  31,  1797.  See 
Collections,  2d  scr.  vol.  viii.  p.  277,  for  a  memoir  of  him. 


8 


IIamkax  May  10.  1770 

CtP.y^  I  have  now  heforo  me  your  P'steeinM  favor  of  2.'J''  of  April, 
nddrc^ssM  to  Mr.  M.  Salter  and  mysedf,  and  tliank  you,  in  behalf  of  the 
Worthy  dissenting  Clergy  of  this  province,  for  the  generous  ('ontrihu- 
tion  you  have  obtain'd  for  their  present  relief,  and  whieh  will,  I  doubt 
not,  be  received  by  them,  with  the  Utmost  Gratitude. 

Mr  Salter  is  now  at  Uoston,  and  will  consult  you  upon  the  proper 
distribution  of  the  Money,  he  being  much  iHittitr  ac(|'.iainted  with  the 
particular  Circumstances,  and  wants  of  Each  of  the  CJentlemen,  than  I 
am ;  It  is  my  opinion  however,  that  if  the  Collection  could  be  laid  out 
in  necessary  provisions  for  the  Use  of  their  families,  such  as  Pork  Jlour, 
Meal,  Chocolate,  Coffee,  Tea,  Sugar  »&'■'  &c.  it  might  bo  more  advanta- 
gious,  than  if  the  Money  was  given  them,  those  necessary  articles  being 
much  dearer  here,  than  with  you.  If  you  should  concur  with  me 
herein.  Mr  IJarrett  will  be  so  good  as  to  see,  that  the  provisions  are 
purchas'd,  and  proportion'd,  as  may  Im!  .idvised,  and  sent  hither  in  differ- 
ent packages,  and  directad,  when  t)ie  same  shall  be  forwarded  by  the 
first  Conveyance. 

I  Sincerely  wish  that  Mr  IMoor  may  be  so  happy  as  to  obtain  from 
the  Charitably  disposed  in  England  somewhat  that  may  prove  of  a  more 
lasting  benefit  to  the  cause  we  would  promote :  of  which  you  shall  be 
made  acquainted,  so  soon  as  anything  certiiin  relative  to  the  matter  may 
arrive. 

I  am  Gent"-  with  mucii  respect 

Your  Most  Obedient  &  Humble  Servf 

Bn  Gerrish. 

P  S.  Since  writing  the  above  I  have  seen  the  Rev"!  Mr  Seccombe, 
who  is  desirous  that  any  proportion  of  the  Sum  given  that  may  be 
assign'd  him,  may  be  sent  in  money. 

To  the  Rev'i  Doctors  Eliot  &  Cooper 


Rev"  S-r,  Some  Time  last  September  I  receiv'd  Forty  Dollers 
from  Benj,  Gerrish  Esq'  at  Halifax,  Part  of  the  Donation  of  some 
Charitable  Gentlemen  at  Boston  for  the  Relief  of  the  indigent  dissent- 
ing Minister  of  this  Province,  which  came  very  seasonably  to  me  and  I 
have  Reason  to  think  to  others  also  —  About  which  Time  I  was  in- 
vited by  a  Letter  from  Malachy  Salter  Esqf  to  go  to  Halifax  and  preach 
a  Month,  Dr.  Moore  being  gone  —  I  accordingly  have  been,  and  Mr 
Salter  informed  me  that  I  was  peculiarly  indebted  to  yourself  and 
Doctor  Ccoper  for  the  Donation,  And  I  now  return  hearty  Thanks  for 
the  same,  wishing  to  yourself  and  others  a  better  Reward  than  this 
World  affords  —  you  will  please  to  thank  those  charitable  Gentlemen 


9 


on  my  Hehalf — At  Halifax  I  met  with  thtt  KeV^  Mr  Seccomhc  of 
Chester  und  tlu^  Rev''  Mr  Giimiot  of  Ciimherliuul,  (ieiitlemeii  whom  1 
had  never  hejui  arM|iiaiiite<l  with  heforts  and  was  mneh  pKiaHcd  to  find 
Hndi  Herious  and  good  MiniwterH  in  this  Province,  for  I  have  not  before 
V,(!<!n  ac(|iiainted  with  any  onci,  exce|)t  Mr  Wood,  who  has  eoiiHc^nted 
last  Summer,  I  am  informed,  that  his  l'eo[)le  should  he  no  longer 
obliged  to  give  him  any  support,  nevertht-less  has  offered  to  preach 
this  Winter  for  Nothing  as  they  call  it. 

This  Town  is  very  nmch  deta(;h'd  frouj  the  rest  of  the  Province,  to 
the  northward  and  eastward  there  is  no  regular  setlcd  Town  nigher 
than  Annapolis,  and  to  the  southward  Harrington  or  Cape  Sable  is  the 
nighest  which  is  Twelve  'leagues  hence  —  and  Halifax  Fifty — There 
is  a  comfortai/le  Unity  in  Opinion  amongst  us  in  this  Part  of  the  Town 
call'd  Cape  forchu,  about  Two  Thirds  of  the  Inhabitants  here,  have 
laid  themselves  under  some  Obligation  to  give  me  Fifty  Pounds  |)r 
Annum,  but  I  have  not  receiv(!d  the  One  half  of  that,  for  the  Time 
that  I  have  preached  herj  since  last  summer  was  Three  Years,  the 
People  not  being  well  able  —  A  Congregational  Church  was  gathered 
here,  last  September  Three  Years  ago,  in  which  I  have  to  this  Day 
ofRciated  as  their  Minister  —  The  other  Part  of  the  Town  settled  on  a 
River  called  Taboguo  are  less  happy  than  we  in  Regard  of  Unity  — 
The  Rev'd  Messrs  Reed  &  Cnnant  of  Bridge  water  if  I  mistake  not 
were  here  last  Spring  to  assist  them  to  Unity,  and  so  far  succeeded 
as  to  persuade  them  to  meet  in  One  Assembly,  till  the  last  Sabbath, 
when  they  parted  again,  and  One  Part  have  Mr  Scott  a  layman 
among  them,  &  the  other  Part  Mr  Moulton  a  Haptist  Minister  from 
Brimfield 

From  Your  humble  Servant,  &  Fellow-Labourer  in  the  Gospel 

Neh"  Porter' 
Yarmouth  in  Nova  Scotia  Nov.  16.  1770. 

To  Tlie  Hev'  Dr.  Anhrkw  Kliot.  In  Boston  New  England. 


'  The  Rev.  Nelieniiah  I'orter  was  born  at  Ipswich,  March  27,  1720,  and  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  the  Class  of  1746.  He  was  settled  at  Yarmouth,  Nova 
Scotia,  in  1767,  where  he  remained  until  1771,  when  he  returned  to  Massachusetts. 
He  died  at  Ashfleld,  Massachusetts,  Feb.  29,  1820,  at  tiie  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
nine  years  and  eleven  months. 


